Darkness envelopes me, and finally the pain is gone.
Three years later
I watch snowflakes float down from the bright blue sky while sitting at my desk located in the back of the classroom.
“Art, would you like to read your essay?” Mr. Jared, the English Literature teacher, asks.
Fuck, I don’t need this shit. It’s the last day of school before winter vacation. When I rolled out of bed this morning, I didn’t brush my hair or shower. I’m impressed with myself for actually taking the time to at least wash my face and brush my teeth. My uniform is wrinkled, the shirt open at the collar with my tie hanging loosely around my neck. It’s the last class before lunch. I’m getting through this damn day by the skin of my teeth.
Usually teachers don’t bother me since my grandfather wrote a big fat check just to get me into this school. Bribery is something he excels at. I’ve been kicked out of four schools, including one military, since being released from rehab two years ago, so the old man must’ve been extremely generous. Blackwood Academy is one of the most expensive private schools in Boston, Massachusetts. The offspring of the rich and famous are enrolled here. I have the same financial status as them, but that’s where the similarities end. My appearance alone should’ve made it impossible for me to be accepted.
I have small stainless steel hoops hanging from my ears, afrenulum, nose, lip, and tongue piercing. My tattoos include flames covering my right arm up to my neck, a skull on my right pectoral, a heart with a knife through it on my left, a semicolon behind my left ear, and the last one is an image of Cole covering my entire back with the sun shining behind him. Just before Thanksgiving break, the class was given an assignment to select an important figure in history who made a significant impact on how the United States operates today. It’s about a week before Christmas, Cole’s favorite holiday, so I sure as hell wasn’t thinking about a fucking assignment. What I really want to do is buy cocaine. The urge is beating at me, wearing me down, and I want to give in.
I can’t sleep at night because my little brother haunts my dreams. The conclusion of the nightmare is always the same.
“Help me! Please, help me, Art!”
“I’m coming, Cole. Hold on!” I yell.
The faster I run, the farther away the pool seems to be. In the distance, I can see Cole fighting to stay above the water. I pump my legs harder, pushing my body to the limit. Sweat drips down my face, but I’m not making progress. The fight in Cole lessens with each second that passes.
“Don’t give up, Cole!” I shout frantically.
His body disappears under the surface. The silence is deafening.
I always wake up right after that moment in a cold sweat, my heart pounding in my chest. With the nightmare being my constant companion, it’s no wonder I’m sleep deprived.
“No, I don’t,” I reply.
“Why not?”
“Because I didn’t complete the assignment,” I reply, nonchalantly.
A few of my classmates snicker.
“Art, you’re skating on thin ice. Do you want to graduate?”
“I really don’t give a fuck if I graduate or not, Mr. Jared.”
“That’s not a good attitude to have.”
“But it’s the only one I’ve got.”
“Mr. Jared, you shouldn’t waste your breath on scum like him. He’s a lost cause,” Kade cuts in.
He sits a few seats over from me.
“Do you want to say that to my face?” I ask.
“Whoa, gentleman. Let’s be civilized to one another,” Mr. Jared cautions.
“Arthur, I smelled a little something when you walked by me, and I just wanted to know if you washed your ass this morning. From the state of your appearance, I’m assuming the answer is no.” Owen chuckles.
That statement causes the entire class to erupt into laughter.
“That’s the scent of your mother. I was in her pussy all night.”
“You motherfucker,” Owen growls.
